Hi !,This is a quick guide for the new version of 3dsMax plugin 3.08 RC1 - 5.01.We are working on an updated documentation and proper tutorials, but as a quick start, here are some explanation and basic samples:

OSL Texture: let you write your own shader, to generate the pixel color of a texture.

You can now use and edit this osl file for your OSL Textures, and the dynamic parameters, if any, will appear in the texture dialog.To open the default build-in editor OSL editor, select 'Edit' with right click on the OSL button. Alternatively, you can use 'Edit with external editor', when you set the path to your text editor in the Trouble Shooting preference.. (eg, 'C:/Program Files (x86)/Notepad++/notepad++.exe')

Some basic OSL samples:

********** fixed color **********osl_yellow.max.Open the diffuse material "tstOsl01" in the material editor.Select the Diffuse texture "myOslTx1"Right click on the Osl button to see the available options and edit this shader.

********** red slider ***********red_slider.maxJust to introduce a dynamic parameter, this let you set the red value of the RGB color with a slider in the material editor.Note the parameter name 'Redness', and the min and max values

********** BGR image ************bgr_image_tx.maxIntroducing a 'color' input, that let you choose any Octane texture.Here, we use a RGB image, and swap the red and blue values.

********** mix texture **********osl_mix_textures.maxThis shader behaves like the Octane Mix Texture, Note that the 3 input parameters are dynamic and when the shader is compiled, corresponding dialog items are created, to let you edit those parameters.For 'color' inputs, the convenient combo box allows you to use simple items (float value, color value, corresponding to a Float texture, and RGB Spectrum texture),or select any of the Octane texture type.It's now very easy to edit this shader to mix 3 or more textures !

********** Mandelbrot *****Mandelbrot.maxThis is a nice example of a more complex shader.

********* OSL Errors and warnings **********The texture dialog has a status line, showing 'Ok.' when the shader was compiled without any issue.It will display an error or warning message if compilation failed.

To view the message in the editor window, right click on the shader name button, and select 'Edit'You can then edit and try to fix the error, and re-save.When the editor window is closed, the texture dialog will be updated.